Suzuki Motor USA kicked off the 2025 MotoAmerica season in outstanding fashion, with the Suzuki GSX-R750 claiming pole position and two podium positions in the 83rd Daytona 200 and the Suzuki GSX-8R sweeping both Twins Cup victories.
Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki’s Superbike regular Richie Escalante capped off a near-flawless weekend for the team by earning second-place in the iconic Daytona 200 aboard the team’s next-generation Suzuki GSX-R750 Supersport machine. Escalante was in the mix, at or near the front throughout despite a rain delay and second red flag stoppage due to a crash. The Mexican born racer was calm and fast, aided by his team’s pit stop acumen that earlier won the squad the Pitstop Challenge victory. He ultimately edged teammate Tyler Scott for the runner-up position by a scant 0.08-second margin at the checkered flag.
“Honestly, it was a difficult weekend for us,” Escalante admitted. “I didn’t have the best feeling during the weekend, especially during the Time Attack. I wasn’t confident this morning, so I said, ‘Okay, let’s go back to the setting from last year.’ And I was very strong in the race. I felt really good, and we battled with so many different riders.
“I’m happy to finish on the podium. Of course, I want to win, but that’s not always possible. I’m super happy. Big thanks to my entire Team Hammer Vision Wheel M4 ECSTAR Suzuki crew.”
Scott finished on the podium after earlier taking the Suzuki GSX-R750 to pole for the second consecutive season. He led at the start and at several other points along the way before crossing the stripe side-by-side with his teammate in third.
He said, “It was a difficult day for sure with the rain and everything, but the whole Vision Wheel M4 Suzuki team put in so much effort from the end of last season to today. A lot of hard work, so much training, and a lot of testing. The bike we have here today is a way better motorcycle than we had last year, and I’m more fit than last year.
“Overall, it was a very good race. The pit stops were perfect. I can’t give enough thanks to all my guys. I’m really excited because the bike feels amazing going into the first round of the MotoAmerica Supersport championship.”
Reigning Junior Cup champion Matthew Chapin made a magnificent transition up to the Twins Cup as he scored a pair of dramatic victories in his first outing aboard the RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki GSX-8R. Chapin came out on top of a four-rider scrap to win on Friday by a narrow .087-second margin and then upped the stakes with a five-rider, 0.019-second triumph on Saturday.
Chapin said, “I think my whole plan was just to be patient until the last lap let those guys fight it out at the front. I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks; I knew I had the bike underneath me to do it. So I just used the draft at the end and got it done.
“Huge thanks to everyone at RevZilla, Motul, and Vance & Hines for believing in me.”
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